How can I manage my dry mouth naturally?
- Sip on Water or Sugarless Drinks Frequently: This will promote hydration and keep your mouth moist throughout the day. This is especially important with meals, as dry mouth can make chewing and swallowing difficult. Sipping water or other sugarless drinks can make both chewing and swallowing easier. Additionally, it is crucial to avoid drinks that contain caffeine and alcohol, as both are diuretics, which means they can cause dehydration and dry mouth.
- Avoiding the Use of Tobacco: The use of tobacco can increase the symptoms of dry mouth
- Avoid Antihistamines and Decongestants: If possible, these medications should be avoided as they are known to dry out the mouth
- Chewing Sugarless Gum or Sucking on Sugarless Candy or Lozenges: This can actually stimulate the production of saliva. Sugarless options include but are not limited to Orbit Sugarfree Gum, Trident Gum with Xylitol, Ricochet Gum, Spry Mints, Thayers Sugar-free Citrus Dry Mouth Lozenges (Click the words in green for more informartion)
- Use a humidifier: Dry air in buildings and homes can exacerbate dry mouth symptoms and a humidifier will moisten your mouth
- Acupuncture: Evidence demonstrates this may increase saliva production
- Wear a Night Guard: Studies show that wearing a night guard when you sleep can improve the oral comfort of those with dry mouth
- Breathe Through Your Nose: Mouth-breathing increases the dryness.
Are there any over-the-counter remedies?
Yes, there are many OTC products available that can help provide moisture to your mouth. Many of these agents are gels or liquids. A tip to follow is to use a saliva substitute instead of drinking water before you go to sleep in order to reduce the need to get up and go to the bathroom during the night. Ask your doctor or dentist about what OTC products could work for you.
Here is a list of saliva substitutes, moisturizing sprays, lozenges, and gels (manufacturer). If links to the product website were available they are in blue:
Here is a list of mouthwashes that can help those with dry mouth (manufacturer)
Here is a list of saliva substitutes, moisturizing sprays, lozenges, and gels (manufacturer). If links to the product website were available they are in blue:
- Biotene Oral Balance Moisturizing Gel & Dry Mouth Liquid (GlaxoSmithKline)
- Entertainer’s Secret (KLI Corp.)
- Mouth Kote (Parnell Pharmaceuticals)
- Oasis Moisturizing Mouth Spray (GlaxoSmithKline)
- Saliva Substitute (Roxane Laboratories)
- Sprey Rain Oral Mist Spray (Xlear)
- Salese Dry Mouth Soft Lozenge (Nuvora)
- Act Dry Mouth Lozenge (Chattem)
- OraMoist Dry Mouth Patch (Quantum)
- Certain mouthwashes can help to either soothe your dry mouth or help with re-mineralizing your teeth. It is typically recommended that those with dry mouth choose a mouth wash that is alcohol-free. Talk to your doctor about what would be best for you.
Here is a list of mouthwashes that can help those with dry mouth (manufacturer)
What prescription medications can help with dry mouth?
For most people, one or multiple remedies listed on this page are enough to adequately manage their dry mouth. However, some people do benefit from prescription drug therapy to treat dry mouth. If enough of the salivary gland is present, then it may be possible to stimulate saliva production with a medication. Medications that increase the flow of saliva are called secretogogues.
There are currently two prescription drugs on the market for dry mouth
There are currently two prescription drugs on the market for dry mouth
- Pilocaripine: Also known as Salagen. This medication is approved to treat dry mouth caused by Sjögren’s syndrome, as well as dry mouth caused by head and neck radiation therapy.
- Cevimeline: Also known as Evoxac. This medication is only approved to treat dry mouth caused by Sjögren’s syndrome.